“Maybe we can negotiate.”
The ginger’s foreign accent is stark in the silence of the room.
“Not with Ambessa. I saw it in her eyes. She will burn Piltover to the ground for my betrayal.”
The voice that replies has a similarly strong lilt, but a clear British one, its smooth nature morphed into something of defeat.
“You can’t blame yourself.”
Maddie reached a hand towards Caitlyn’s, hoping to comfort her with a gentle action. Cait pulled her gloved fingers away. “I don’t need consolation. I need a plan.”
The tension in the air dissipates when the door opens, surprising the two officers. Vi steps forward, bringing with her a different kind of tension. Anger. “Caitlyn?”
Maddie doesn’t hesitate in walking over to the red-head, hands held forwards in a placating manner. Caitlyn quickly interjects.
“I can handle this, Maddie. Check on my father?”
Maddie pauses, glancing over at Caitlyn before brushing past Vi, eyes downcast, not sad but annoyed. Without a second thought she shuts the door behind her, leaving Cait and Vi alone together.
“Vi.”
“Maddie?” Vi interrupts, disbelief mixing with irritation.
“She’s just an officer enforcer, Violet. I was making sure she did her job."
Vi puts her hands on her hips, pacing the room. "I don't understand why you have to stand so close to do that."
Caitlyn suppresses a smile, leaning against her chair and watching Vi with raised eyebrows. "Is that the issue here?"
The red-head spun around, incredulous. "Well it's a genuine question so what does it matter?"
Caitlyn put on a gentle expression, eyes soft, hoping to coax Vi into a more relaxed mood.
"As I said, I was making sure she did her job. If she got a bit too close, I apologise. Nothing happened."
Cait's attempt at morphing her disposition into something soothing didn't affect Vi's own.
"Well, 'Commander Kirraman', I can tell everyone wants to get close to you. Maddie is just the stupidest one."
Caitlyn barely manages to keep from rolling her eyes, standing to approach Vi, leaning against the wall next to her, arms crossed.
"But you don't have to worry about them. Isn't that obvious by now?"
Vi just presses her head against the wood, eyes down, mind churning. Her voice is quiet when she speaks, a stark difference from her earlier tone.
"But… I'm not as refined as Maddie. As smart as Jayce. As pretty as Mel. So why would you choose me?"
"Because I don't care about any of that."
The red-head shifts to face Cait, and suddenly she just wants to drown in the crisp blue of Caitlyn’s eyes.
"I care about what's in here..."
The captain puts her hand over Vi's heart, the touch gentle, but the small action has Vi struggling to withhold doing something drastic. All she does is let a smile onto her lips.
Caitlyn returns it without hesitation, bringing her hand up to Vi's cheek. "No one is as good as you, Vi."
The sheriff swallows, suddenly nervous. "I love you."
Vi barely has a chance to let the words sink in before Caitlyn's up straight, letting her lips press the ghost of a kiss on Vi's cheek, and then the captain is gone. Just like that, leaving the room empty and quiet.
Vi's heart is beating at a million miles per hour, the sound as loud as gunshots in her head. Was that a dream? Did that just happen?
She brings her hand up to touch her cheek, and the action itself seems unreasonable, let alone the speed of her heartbeat. It’s an adrenaline similar to that of when in battle. A rapidly beating heart, mind racing. But there's a fluffy feeling in Vi's stomach that doesn't feel natural.
Still in utter disbelief, Vi makes it out of the office, into the hallway. Back to Caitlyn's room, where her bed sits bare and the room is empty. Vi gets the idea that she might not see Cait for a while, but that's good.
It gives her time to compose herself, something she desperately needs. For some reason. Who knew some rich mongoose could make Vi feel like this?
Hopelessly in love.